Christopher N. Honda, Ph.D.

Research Interests:

The skin and deep tissues comprise a vital interface between our bodies and our surroundings. The senses of touch and pain are especially critical in interactions with our environment. Our research interests are centered on functional and structural mechanisms underlying these senses, and there is a particular emphasis in our laboratory on neuronal mechanisms contributing to the sensory experience of pain.

We use a combination of anatomical, immunohistochemical, and electrophysiological techniques to establish basic relationships between neuronal structure, cytochemistry and function. We are applying these techniques to the study of individual sensory neurons of the peripheral nervous system. Currently, our main research direction is the functional regulation of peripheral opioid receptors, and how these receptors contribute to peripheral analgesic systems.

Selected Publications:

(For a comprehensive list of recent publications, refer to PubMed, a service provided by the National Library of Medicine.)